Ethnobotany of gout remedies among the Madurese People in Pamekasan District, East Java, Indonesia

Abstract. Andriansyah, Fathir A, Antika LT. 2026. Ethnobotany of gout remedies among the Madurese People in Pamekasan District, East Java, Indonesia. Asian J Ethnobiol 9: y090101. https://doi.org/10.13057/asianjethnobiol/y090101. Traditional herbal medicine represents an important component of Madurese Cultural Heritage and continues to be widely used for managing chronic conditions such as gout. However, ethnobotanical studies that specifically document gout-related herbal practices within the Madurese Cultural context remain limited. This study aimed to document medicinal plant species used for gout treatment among the Madurese Community in Pamekasan District, East Java, Indonesia, including plant parts, preparation methods, and the cultural rationale underlying their selection. Fieldwork was conducted from October to November 2024 using purposive sampling and semi-structured interviews with 30 informants across 17 villages. The study documented 27 medicinal plant species belonging to 13 families, incorporated into 30 traditional herbal formulations. The Zingiberaceae family was the most dominant, comprising 10 species, with Curcuma longa and Zingiber officinale showing the highest cultural prominence (RFC = 0.70 and 0.57, respectively). Rhizomes were the most frequently utilized plant parts, while decoction was the primary preparation method (60%), reflecting both practical efficiency and cultural preference. The predominance of rhizome-based remedies is culturally linked to the Madurese perception of “warming” plants that restore bodily balance and alleviate joint discomfort associated with gout. Although therapeutic efficacy is interpreted empirically rather than biochemically, these practices align with the known anti-inflammatory and uric acid-related potential of rhizomatous plants reported in previous studies. This research addresses a key gap in Indonesian ethnobotanical literature by providing the first systematic documentation of gout-specific herbal practices among the Madurese Community, integrating quantitative ethnobotanical indices with cultural interpretation. The findings emphasize traditional medicine as a biocultural system that connects health practices, ecological availability, and cultural identity, while offering a foundation for future pharmacological validation, biodiversity conservation, and culturally responsive health strategies.